Tonka

https://www.army.mil/article/116793/Army_tests_vehicle_mounted_laser_against_multiple_targets/ More LASERs, this one takes out UAVs and mortars:

Too bad we have to wait 6-9 months to find out... There's going to be a lot of career-gambling this year.

Fewer Pilots? Maybe, but we'll have LASERs... https://news.usni.org/2013/11/20/air-force-seeks-laser-weapons-next-generation-fighters

It might happen naturally when we end up cutting a lot of people (not advocating, just reality), less people, less aircraft sharing the same #of hours... Of course at some point we would have to let pilots be pilots and reduce their daily overhead appropriately [/pipe dream].

A dozen Roombas are standing by to provide counseling to those who knew anyone involved.

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

I'm sure the price will drop some if we did, but aren't they pretty expensive compared to ABUs?

He sent an email with the number 6 and the number 9 in close proximity to each other.

No it's an island off by Hawaii, at least that is where I've seen it on the map.

SIB is worth the read... but, WRT to your comment: it's not a linear relationship: a delta of 27 knots above 100 has more kinetic energy to dissipate than a 49 knot delta from 0. I'm spit balling here: ~on the order of 3x? https://www.groveairc...wbproducts.html 130,000# acft @ 50 knots (4 wheels with brakes): 3.6 Mil ft-lbs 130,000# acft @ 125 knots: 22 Mil ft-lbs 130,000# acft @ 150 knots: 32 Mil ft-lbs Difference is about 10 Mil versus 3.6 Mil ft-lbs. At the high speed you dissipate 1/3 of your energy slowing through 1/6 of your speed. Versus at the slow speed you dissipate 1/10th of your energy slowing through 1/3 of your speed.

Marine Corps whistleblower faces vengeance from superiors https://www.washingto...geance-from-su/ After sacking 2 Generals this week, the Commandant is in some hot water as well.

Aw nuts, I guess the time was cumming. Hopefully those restrictions will eventually peter-out, give it a few months then push to testy. Make sure they "get it in" an AFI, how else can I follow a legal order? Can you use the term in connection with other statements? "He really has no...", "I wish someone would kick him in the...", "His girlfriend has a nice set of hairy....", can you still request to hear a certain song by AC/DC. In fact that song should be played as much as possible.

I guess I was trying to describe a pitch-controlable hypothetical-region between Idle and feather (obvious some safe gaurds in place to prevent my hyperbole). But, the DASH-1 does have a warning specifically addressing operation below flight idle (another hypothetical use in flight), about extreme propeller overspeed leading to loss of aircraft. Valid... I'm a pessimest, I think it's possible (however remote) for a tired-crew to screw it up... perhaps you shutdown #2, forget to turn on the aux, unfamiliar field, land, turn off, tower tells you to minimize air flow over the dirt for the fighters, hotel mode #1 and #4, bad day.

Caveman description-> As the pitch of the blades goes towards the feather position the engine doesn't work as hard (producing less thrust), requiring (demanding) less fuel. Once you get to an idle thrust any further reduction in pitch on the props would result in the speed of the blades to increase (Which in a constant speed prop is not a good thing). I would assume that the idle is set to limit the fuel reduction to stay out of a poor performance state (stall/surge susceptibility region), and to keep the engine turning the elecs/hyd/air (note my complaint about HOTEL mode in the previous post)... As it is now the Idle is so low that the anti/de-ice doesn't work as effectively if you pull all 4 to idle. However it has never really been an issue until (and by no means is this a complaint) you create a new engine that produces so much thrust at idle that an empty, low-fuel aircraft has a comparability smaller ratio of induced drag to slow down the aircraft with. You then put that aircraft in icing conditions where you have to keep the engines out of idle to keep from icing and well, it sucks.

Well, if you really want to hear a heavy pilot complain... pull up a chair and I'll tell you what would make me happy, or at least make me find something else to complain about. How is that block 7.0 working out? A woefully underpowered FMS is a huge issue (Rumour mill was that it was designed for/ICW the upgraded FMS for the C-5? which last I checked does not do nearly the same mission set)... How late will 8.1 be because of it? https://www.defensene...-C-130-Grounded I'd take a speed brake/spoiler, but (yes, I know it is not that simple) how about a lower idle power setting so you can slow down like many other variable pitch prop aircraft. Poorly designed, slow responding AP, ATS. Why did they not redesign the gear so you can actually stop in a turn? Why did they not put temp monitors on the brakes? Why pull CBs as a regular checklist item? Why reset systems (FADEC, NIU, etc) as a regular checklist item. HINT: Poor design. Why design a HOTEL mode without a method of cooling the engines (or the ability to run hydraulics)? How is that vibration issue in the cargo compartment affect us in the long term? I could go on, there are plenty of issues that need to be addressed... It is a great aircraft with great performance, and the operators do a great job of working around the designed deficiencies. But it is not worth almost $100 million a copy with the buyers shouldering all the fixes. Just because we delt with it on the legacy doesn't mean we should have to deal with these issues for another 50 years on a brand new plane. Just my $0.02

Yes, I was refering to the aircraft itself... since the OP was:

Join the club... we prefer to blame the Brits.

https://www.airforcem...th-Boredom.aspx yeah, boredom...that's at the top of my list of problems to solve. Although, to give him some credit, he is right, "They will not hang around long"... but please no more creative "adventures".

Obama gives pay/retirement guidance to the committee: (Recommendation due to the President by May of next year) https://www.military....C=airforce-a.nl The article goes on to say: Hey guess what, when the economy gets better we can no longer expect people to join/stay in without significant incentives... Hey maybe somebody finally figured it out!

Aeroscraft begins flight testing following FAA certification https://www.gizmag.co...-testing/28970/ https://www.prweb.com...web11033700.htm

Retired On Active Duty

You still have supervision, you still have Os that are experts. I wouldn't buy that as a valid argument. I'm not necessarily advocating the swap (I don't know enough about what is required for the job). I was just pointing out that it is not just a nickel and dime idea. From an outsiders perspective: reverse the logic and determine why an Officer is not driving (or at least being required to be operating): Tanks, MRAPs, Army Helos, Army UAVs, Boats, Subs, etc... How was it determined that those skills/responsibilities should not be forced on an O? Is it the cost of weapon? The potential impact of errors? The skill set?

Conservative savings estimate 1000 pilots?, $30,000/year salary delta = $30mill/year -> 15 years->$1/2Billion... couple in retirement costs, bah, exponential growth of # of required operators, etc... + you solve the promotion problem, help the fighter pilot shortage, get more in line with the other services, and perhaps ease the upcoming RIF(s) effect on the O side. I would argue you would also need fewer operators overall since they won't have 20 additional duties, spend 1+ year at SOS, ACSC, AAD, career broadening, etc... just spit balling.

Glad they are all safe, . Japan already wants some answers: https://www.kuna.net....360&language=en

$$$(we're just a little broke, and we like to buy expensive stuff)